Autumn chores

It was warm enough to swim a few weeks ago, but suddenly fall came and brought winter with it. Now it’s time for autumn chores. 

This afternoon we plan to bring in all the plants that have been summering on our deck in the back

and in front of our great-room windows. Some of these are smaller plants that I can carry two at a time. There are others so big that using a forklift to move them would be helpful.

We used to put the 30 or so plants in our great-room turning it into a terrarium complete with lizards and frogs. They live in the plants and tend to assume the color of their surroundings for survival. A green chameleon looks like a green lemon leaf until it jumps for a mosquito. They freaked Jilda out the first few times we noticed them, but we have a “live and let live policy.” If they can survive inside, we let them live in the citrus trees.

One year, just after we’d brought the trees in Jilda was sitting in the kitchen with our niece Samantha who was about five at the time. Samantha kept hearing a squeaking sound. While investigating, Jilda took a closer look at one of the trees. When she bent over to look at the roots, a chipmunk launched out from a small hole he’d dug in the pot. Soon Jilda, Samantha, and the chipmunk were ricocheting off the walls of the living room. The two finally managed to herd the critter out the door with brooms. My only regret is that we didn’t film that chase. It would have been priceless on YouTube.

Last year, I came up with the idea of using plastic sheeting to turn the screen porch into a temporary greenhouse. We put the smaller plants out there along with an electric heater that we used on cold nights, and the plants thrived.

I feared that my new knee would keep me from climbing a ladder, but I’m getting around better now than I was before my surgery. I did a few test climbs on the ladder, and I feel comfortable climbing.

Hopefully, by day’s end, all the plants will be safe from the frosty weather that’s coming later this week.

Toward the bottom of my to-do list is cleaning out the firepit and collecting kindling. Soon, we’ll start having gatherings of friends and family. Usually, everyone ends up outside sitting around the crackling firepit. If there are kids in the crowd, we roast marshmallows and make s’mores. Both are kid pleasers.

This year should be even more pleasant because I saved the wood I trimmed off the apple trees in the garden. Few things have a better aroma than apple wood in a firepit.

Looking back, I’ve always had autumn chores. When I was a kid my areas of responsibility had two main areas of focus. Each evening I had to have heaping scuttles of coal on the fireplace hearth.

Since we didn’t have an indoor bathroom back then, I was responsible for carrying out the slop jar first thing each morning. 

I can’t tell you how thrilled I was when my dad sprung for a furnace and an indoor bathroom. 


This much I know for sure ‑ When it comes to chores, I’d much rather be collecting apple wood to burn in our firepit than taking a slop jar to the outside facility.